Author(s)

G Beccali, M Cellura & M Mistretta

Abstract

The need to collect and process information on urban ecosystem requires the introduction of innovative scientific tools, in order to analyze the current urban factors and to optimize the energetic and environmental profile of urban systems, with regard to carrying capacity and territorial needs and vocations. Addressing these needs requires two main elements: (i) public availability of transparent data; and (ii) availability of interactive software designed to make easier exploration of data, models and results. The aim of the present paper is to show a user-friendly software, which is designed as a decision support system for policy makers in the multi-criteria selection among different planning and management options. Such software is able to assess the whole environmental performance of urban systems and to control the developing trends towards sustainability, in consequence to different scenarios of human management. It can be usefully employed to analyze the developing trends of urban ecosystems and to plan sustainable development strategies, as tool of decision-making support in the selection of the eco-sustainable options.

Keywords